AIRSHOW-Qatar Airways firms up order for 20 737 jets, further options dependent on Italy, India

PARIS, June 19 (Reuters) - Qatar Airways has firmed up an
order for 20 Boeing 737 MAX jets and is awaiting the
outcome of possible expansion in Italy and India before deciding
whether to exercise further options, the carrier's CEO said on
Monday.

Qatar Airways signed a letter of intent for up to 60
narrowbody 737 MAX 8 jets, worth $6.9 billion at list prices,
last year.

"We have another 40 options and purchase rights, which we
could exercise depending on the way forward with both Meridiana
and our Indian carrier," Akbar Al Baker told journalists at the
Paris Airshow on Monday.

Qatar Airways has been in talks over a stake in Italian
carrier Meridiana and is planning to set up a domestic airline
in India.

Al Baker also said the CSeries jet by Bombardier
could fit for the domestic Indian carrier.

"Instead of ATRs or Q400s, I could use the CSeries on
short-runway destinations in India," he said.

He added Qatar Airways was not interested in larger variants
of the 737 MAX because it was ordering A321neo jets.

The carrier has been in talks with Airbus to change an order
for A320neos for the larger A321neo variant after problems with
the engines made by Pratt & Whitney.

Al Baker said he was close to finalising negotiations with
Airbus to switch to the rival Leap engine made by CFM, a joint
venture of General Electric and Safran.
(Reporting by Victoria Bryan; Editing by Mark Potter)

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